Chapter 17: Penguin: I Am the Boss!
Although his vision and hearing were temporarily impaired by the blindfold and earplugs, Martin remained calm. His nose twitched, catching the strong scent of leather mixed with high-end perfume. With his hands on the seat, he gauged the vehicle's speed from its vibrations. More importantly, Martin was alone and needed just one opportunity. The elaborate safety measures Penguin had put in place were futile against him. Leaning back, he relaxed.
Candy, who was driving, let out a long sigh of relief. Smiling, Martin closed his eyes, feigning rest. What she didn't realize was that as she drove out of the garage, a blue robin quietly followed in the shadows and fired a tracker at her car.
"Oracle, I've locked onto Candy, Penguin's secretary. There's a black-haired young man in the car with her."
Riding his motorcycle through the bustling streets, Nightwing relayed the intel to the Batcave.
"That young man is Martin," Oracle responded swiftly. "A world-class martial artist. He's undefeated since his debut... Wait, he was near the antenna that uploaded the encrypted file."
Nightwing's masked face showed a flicker of surprise. "Could he be the one who tipped us off?"
"There's not enough evidence yet. That's for you to determine."
"Damn it!" Nightwing muttered under his breath before asking, "And what exactly is Batman up to? This is his city. He called me here, then just vanished?"
Oracle's voice remained steady. "Focus, Nightwing. This isn't the time to argue with Batman."
"I don't care about that old man."
Nightwing dismissed the thought and tightened his grip on the handlebars, eyes locked on the car ahead.
"Mr. Martin, we've arrived."
After an indeterminate time, Candy's soft voice cut through the silence. Martin removed his blindfold and earplugs, blinking to adjust to the bright lights outside the car.
Stepping out, he found himself in a long, tunnel-like corridor lined with steel plating. Overhead, headlights cast harsh beams at regular intervals, illuminating every corner.
Armed personnel bustled about, moving crates—some packed with weapons, others handled with peculiar care. Even pickup trucks and off-road vehicles navigated the tunnel's length.
Martin took it all in silently before speaking, his tone indifferent. "Let's go. This overly mysterious meeting is starting to bore me."
Candy forced a smile and motioned him forward.
The corridor stretched far, its destination unclear. But the path Martin followed led to a massive vault door, its steel reinforcements spanning the entire tunnel width.
Candy whispered to a security camera. One by one, thick steel pillars retracted into the walls, and the enormous door slowly swung open.
"Welcome, my friend! Forgive my lack of courtesy!"
Penguin, ever the showman, spread his arms in a dramatic greeting, umbrella in hand.
Martin ignored him, eyes locking onto the imposing figure in black armor standing behind him.
Sneering, Martin spoke first. "I was wondering who sent those lunatics after me today. Turns out, it was your men."
Penguin, despite the chill running down his spine, maintained his signature grin. To Martin, it was the smile of a man constantly calculating his next move.
"Mr. Martin, today's events were a misunderstanding. Allow me to introduce—this is the Arkham Knight—"
"That was no misunderstanding."
The Arkham Knight cut him off coldly.
Martin smirked. "Mr. Cobblepot, you run a tight operation. Your subordinates are free to talk back, even disrespect you. Seems like I found the right place."
Despite being ridiculed, Penguin kept up his sunny demeanor. "The Arkham Knight isn't my subordinate. He's a gift from my allies. A collaborator."
Martin already knew who those allies were—the League of Assassins. And he knew exactly who stood before him in that cold armor: Jason Todd, the former second Robin.
But instead of pursuing that thread, he gestured toward the Arkham Knight. "This guy's a collaborator? Then what am I? I wiped out his men today."
"You're dead!"
Mentioning his fallen soldiers sent Arkham Knight into a rage. He lunged forward like a beast ready to strike.
"We'll see who dies."
Martin's eyes narrowed, fists clenching as he met the aggression head-on.
Penguin, flustered, stretched out his short arms in an attempt to mediate. Candy and another secretary, Tracy, rushed to restrain them, each grabbing an arm.
But their efforts were meaningless. Against Martin and the Arkham Knight, their strength was no more than a feather brushing against steel.
"Enough!"
Penguin's patience finally snapped. He was a crime lord, not a street brawler.
"You, leave!"
He pointed his umbrella at Arkham Knight, issuing an order.
"Are you sure?" Arkham Knight's voice was low and threatening.
"This is my turf. I entertain my own guests. Leave."
With a sharp exhale, Arkham Knight scoffed and stormed out.
Martin shoved Candy's hand off his shoulder, turning to Penguin. "Where'd you find that guy? No manners at all."
Penguin, avoiding the topic, motioned toward the dining table. "Come, sit. Enjoy the meal I've prepared."
The vault door sealed behind them.
Business discussions unfolded over a lavish banquet. As Martin casually swirled his wine, he remarked, "Impressive that such a fine meal can be made in such a closed-off place. You've spared no effort, Mr. Cobblepot."
Though Arkham Knight had left, Martin noticed hidden gunmen in the vault. They remained out of sight, but their weapons were trained on him.
He waited, searching for his moment to strike.
"Mr. Martin, a world-class martial artist like yourself deserves a proper welcome. It's only natural that I make… certain preparations."
Penguin raised his glass. Martin did the same.
Just as their glasses were about to meet—
An alarm blared through the vault.
"We're under attack! It's Nightwing—ah!"
The announcement was cut short.
Penguin scowled. "Nightwing is nothing."
Martin slammed the table, rising to his feet. "I'll deal with him. Consider it repayment for this meal."
Penguin waved dismissively. "No need, Mr. Martin. I've made arrangements."
With a sigh, he added, "I had prepared these defenses for Batman… What a shame only Nightwing showed up. Such a waste!"